Ticket printing and feeding apparatus for wire stitcher machines



-J. G. MACKECHNIE. JR TICKET PRINT May 19, 1953 Filed April 22, 1950 May 19, 1953 x. G. MAcKEcHNlE, JR 2,638,822

TICKET PRINTING AND F'EEDING APPARATUS FOR WIRE STITCHER 'MACHINES Filed April 22, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY Maia? TroR Ys May 19, 1953 J. G. MAcKEcHNlE, JR 2,638,822

TICKET PRINTING AND FEEDING APPARATUS FOR WIRE STITCHER MACHINES Filed April 22, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR f Jfwzd MAcn'cH/wz di?.

BY @ai ATTOR EYS Patented May 19, `1953 TICKET PRINTING AND FEEDINGr` PPA- RATUS FOR WIRE STITCHER MACHINES James G. Mackechnie, Jr., Springfield, Mass.

Application April 22, 1950, Serial No. 157,432

This invention relates to apparatus for printing, feeding, and attaching tags or tickets on individual articles as by a wire stitching machine and hasfor an object to provide mechanism automatically presenting an individually identified tag for stapling to the material of an article placed in a stitcher machine.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide apparatus in a common type of Wire stitching machine by means of whicha paper ticket or tag may be automatically fastened to identify each item in a bundle of laundry. The utility of the invention is specifically pointed out in its application to the work of a laundry plant, although it will be seen that the apparatus may be adapted for other specific circumstances.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a. machine of the character described a novel means for delivering the free end of a paper strip between the staple forming members of a wire stitcher` machine and for simultaneously severing a tag from the end of the strip and printing a succeeding portion of the strip while the` stitcher machine is performing the staple forming operation. i

These and other specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an apparatus embodying the invention as shown by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a wire stitching machine having the mechanism of the present invention mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the mechanism shownby Fig. 1 and illustrating the operation of the ticket strip advancing means;

Fig. 3 is a `similar view to show the relationship of` `parts in the operation of aiixing theticket` while severing the same from the endof the strip and printing a succeeding strip section;

Fig 4 is a plan view showing details of the skilled in the` art. The apparatus ofthe present invention is described in :connection with the parts of `a wire stitcher machine wellk-nown in 7 Claims. (Cl. {J3- 88) 2 the trade as a Nd 2 Boston Wire Stitcher and manufactured by the Boston Wire Stitcher Company of Warwick, Rhode Island. Prior Patent No. 1,983,384, granted December 4, 1934, to H. T. McClure contains a detailed disclosure of the wire forming and stitching mechanism which will be` herein referred to in a general way and only insofar as deemed necessary for an understanding of the present invention.

As above stated the apparatus disclosed is particularly adapted for attaching by staples small identification tickets on articles in a laundryv4 The table I is vertically spaced from the lower` edge of a bonnet or head 3 of the machine con, taining the wire forming and driving elementsL for aixing a wire staple in a piece of materialy placed` on the table. Clincher mechanism at 4 in table I receives the wire staple driver blade ivbrought downwardly (Fig. 3) to clinch the staple to the material. i

In using the machine the operator grasps an article of laundry and holding a portion thereof stretched between his hands advances it across the table and actuates the mechanism. As will be seen from the wiring diagram of Fig. 7 the table hastwo spaced switch buttons 6 and 1 at the rear edge of the table and two spaced switch buttons 8 and 9 at the front of the table. By first actuating the switch 'l electrical circuits are established to `operate the ticket feeding, printment to an article in a succeeding staple attaching operation. The spaced relation of switches 8 and 9 prevents a careless operator from placing his hands in the path of the staple driving bar by requiring the closing of both switches to actuate the machine.

As shown by Fig. l, the wire stitcher machine has a horizontally disposed arm IU in which a [drive shaft IlI isjournaled in a sleeve bushing "I2 The circuit established by the latter held by a bearing I3 at the forward end of arm I0. At the other end of the shaft a suitable motor driven power transmitting element (not shown) may be coupled to the shaft by means of a clutch engagement (not shown). As will be readily appreciated the clutch engagement may be effected through energizing a clutch solenoid M (Fig. 7) by the closing of switches 8 and 9. The clutch is adapted to engage the .shaft il for one revolution thereof,

At the front end of shaft il is a crank disc I with a pin it fixed eccentrically thereon to oscillate a link il which in turn reciprocates a vertically disposed slide ifl through a pin lil vof `the slide. The slide it is guided in the head A3 for actuating a driver bar 2i! and driver blade 5 zin the manner disclosed by the aforesaid McClure patent. A frictional coupling indicated at 2J provides a driving connection to reciprocate the driver blade 5; and a staple forming bender bar 5a.

The Yhead '3 is mounted in assembledposi'tion on the ,horizontal arm itl as by a'bolt 22 secured on a lower hanger portion 'it thereof.

At each side of portion 2'3 are fastened mount-- ing straps 24 secured vthereto by bolts 25 'and proviling the means for kcarriageof a ticket feeding and printing mechanism Vfor the new apparatus. As more clearly shown by Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the spaced ends of straps Eil below portion 23 carry adjacent spaced frame plates "25. Rearwardly andat the top thereof `(-lfig. 2) is rigidly mounted a Vrearwardly disposed connecting hanger for carrying the printing elements of the mechanismas willbe described.

Between the 'plates 26 is pivotally hung the ticket strip -feed device as on the lower pair of bolts '28 fasteningthe plates 11G-to straps 24.

The feed device is pivoted -as on a swinging frame and hung on bolts 2S 'by a hanger block. The '-bloc'k vis Ya C shaped `member ywith spaced side 'arms 29 (Fig. 4) held on Ibolts 28 'inwardly adjacent plates 26. An integral portion dii -is rearwardly-disposed and undercut orrelieved to connect only the `upper rear portionsvof arms 29 (see Figs. y2 and 3). 'Between the varms `29 and against the underside of portion "30 is fastened by retaininglscrewsl -a forwardly 'extending upperljawpiecef.

lThe -unde'rsurface of the upper -jaw is `groove'd or dished Ilongitudinally to receive a ticket stri-p as will be described. lin the forward portion of the jawt is=also provideda centrallongitudina'l slot V"33 and rearwardly Yin valignment therewith is an `'opening '34. In opening 34 a depending tooth 35 (Figs. Zand-3) ismounted as-by a leaf springfll, fastened on the upper surface-of the iawat 36.

`Also pivoted on bolts-2B inwardly adjacent arms 29 `(Fig. 4) of Vthehan'ger block areside pieces 3=i of 1.a llowerxj aw portion. The side lpieces 3i -receive between them `th'e'forwardly extending upper jaw piece-32 and `forwardly ofthe sides (Fig-2') tisa lower jawpiece '38 having an .upwardly :turned knife edge as `at 39. vPiece 38 is preferably .inte. gral-with the-forward portions of 'the .sides'31- .Adjacent the rearwardly disposed connection of upper ljaw 32 with .portion :it lof the hanger bolck 1'3! a shelf bracket 40 fis .mounted Aas by screws 4l, ,Sorewslll are'fastened intothe outer reel. elle@ portions of yarms 29 (see Fig. 4) of the block and leave-a slotted vpassage between the undersurface at the end of upper jaw :3 2 and-the bracket 'll. Attached at the forward end of the bracket (Figs, 2 and 3) and on the upper surface thereof is a'leaf spring 42 angled forwardly and upwardly to lie against the arcuate undersurface of upper jaw 32. The spring d2 extends forwardly to a point near the tip of the upper jaw and is provided with a long centrally disposed slot 43 extending from a point rearwardly adjacent the tooth prong 35 to the forward portion of slot 33. Spring di? is adapted to tension the ticket strip against the undersurface of the upper jaw and to receive in its slot 43 ticket pusher prongs as ywill be'described.

On the upper surface of the bracket it is inset a vrubber platen IE5 over which the ticket strip de is adapted to pass. The underside of bracket 40 has a U-shaped holder for mounting a solenoid 41. Piunger '48 of the solenoid at its forward end carries .a vpusher bracket lig, the latter being normally urged rearwardly by a spring 5i). At the `top-0f the bracket is a leaf spring ticket pusher 5l upwardly angled to pass between the sides 3l of the lower jaw portion-and to lie with longitudinally spaced prongs 52 riding in the slot 43 of the leaf spring 42 and the slot Si? of the upper Jaw.

On the underside of bracket All and forwardly thereof is `a 'leaf spring vwith forked arms .55 eX- tending forwardly to resiliently urge the lower ja-w piece -38 upwardly against 'stop pins 5B 'fixed' in the plates 28 (see Fig. 2). The forked arms '55 as 'may be seen by Fig. 4 are spaced to straddle the bracket i9 of the solenoid and the ticket pusher Si. As shown `by 2 'the ticket strip da passes over the platen '45 and along the passage provided at the underside of the upper v jaw piece 32 to extend outwardly of the upper jaw as'shown.

The `strip '46 is provided with longitudinally evenly spaced Aperfcrations as ain-5l two adjacent perforations lbeing engaged bythe spaced pusher teeth '52 of the lpusher 5l. The'teeth 52 are forwardly raked to engage the forward edges of the perforations and advance the strip when the solenoid "d'7 is energized. On being -deenergized 'the bracket retracts and the inclined rear surfaces of teeth-521ride out of theperforations and rearwardly to engage the next succeeding perforations of the strip. So that the strip will be accurately positioned -to transfer the teeth t2 as described the permanently positioned stop tooth`35 on spring 36 engages the `next adjacent perforation yrearwardlyof the starting position of teeth 52 and holds the strip against frictional rearward sliding. Tooth 3B is also received in the slot :it of .spring '42 `which A-holds the strip '5 against the undersurface of the upper jaw. Thus the energizing of solenoid 47E rcauses a predetermined advance `of the ticket to `leave a short length of thestrip extendingv `beyond the outer end of the Jaws.

Al`1.eferring.now Vto Figs. 1 and 5, the mechansm forcutting the tag or ticket 'from the strip will `be described. .In the head 3 the vertically reciprocableslide i3 .drivenfby a crank-connection from shaft il of the stitcher machine Ahas been described as acting on the friction coupling connection at n2| to -actuate the A.bender bar 5a. The coupling 2l 4as 4will be appreciated is d-vertically reciprocatedin ythe head during this .operation. In vcooperation withthe coupling there is provided -a hammer .bar assembly slidably mounted in ythehead to .actuate the cutting jaws of the ticket feed mechanism.

Fig.`5 shows two legs of .the hammer member .Straddling at vthe top-'thereof .the .coupling 2l. Above land below the coupling are cross members v59v .joining the legs :5.8. The :forked `ctmstruction:at the lower portion of the legs is 5. for clearance of operative parts (not shown) of thewire guiding means and the guideways for the legs themselves are provided in sides 60 of the head frame portion.

It will be seen from Fig. 5 and Fig. 3 that in the downward travel of coupling 2l the lower cross member 58 is `thus carried downwardly to cause the lower ends of legs 58 to strike against the top of the upperjaw piece 32. 'Ihe hammer will cause the upper jaw 32 to move the swinging frame of the ticket feeder on its pivot 28 and` tend to close the jaw 32 relative to the knife edge 39 of the lower jaw piece 38. The tip end of the upper jaw is provided with a shearing edge so that the short tab at the end of the ticket strip will be severed.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the upper jaw 32 is held upwardly against the bottom of the frame of head 3 by the greater distribution of weight of the ticket feed mechanism being disposed rearwardly of the pivot 28. 'Ihe stop pin 56 prevents the lower jaw 38 being urged upwardly to block passage of the ticket stripI from between the ja-ws. The lower jaw, however, is spaced vertically from the work support surface at the top of the clincherdevice 4 so that `clearance is afforded to place a garment under the free end of the ticket strip. When the wire forming and driving mechanism is actuated to bring the partially formed staple into position for the attaching operation, the hammer rocks the feed frame to carry the free end of the ticket strip into position where the prongs of the wire will pierce the two thicknesses of the ticket and garment.

As seen by Fig. 3 the ticket at 6I is then severed from the strip 46 and is attached to the material 62 of a garment. The lower jaw 38 is, as previously described, independently pivoted on the bolts at 28 and upwardly urged by the leaf spring support of arms 55 seated on bracket 4U. It will be apparent that the pivoting of the feeder frame will not by itself insure the cutting action of the jaws. To posi-` tively close the jaws and Wipe the tip of jaw 32,A past the knife edge 39 of jaw 38 a bumper piece l?` stops further rocking of the frame by supporting the same with the jaws immediately adjacent the work` table surface.` Bumper 63 is resiliently `mounted between the lower forward end portions of plates 26 as by bolt assemblies at 64.

The` return -of the ticket feeder frame from the position of Fig. 3 `to its upper position of Fig. 2 is accomplished by the heavier weight at the rear thereof. The rearwardly balanced weight is sufficient to raise the hammer in the head 3 when the coupling is raised on the return stroke of the driver mechanism.

j It will be obvious that Fig. 2 shows the solenoid in extended ticket feeding position and that when the hammer drops for movement to the position of Fig. 3, the solenoid is normally deenergized and in retracted condition.

In Fig. 6 a plan View of the printing elements of the mechanism is shown. In Figs 2 and 3 a partial side view may be seen. Immediately above the deck of the bracket 48 on which the platen 45 is provided a hanger 65 for supporting the printer is mountedon the upper rear ends of frame plates 26 to permit the printer frame to overhang the rear end of the ticket feeder. Under the` hanger 65 is positioned a depending-numeral wheel device adapted to register its number for printing on `the ticket and spring 6. strip overlying the platen 45. The `assembly of the printing mechanismas shown is a common type of `apparatus with rotatable wheels for changing numerals as desired and providing an inked ribbon for successive printing operations.

Fromthe position of Fig. 3 it will be seen the wheel bracket 66 positions the .numeral Wheels 61 so as to print a numberon `the ticket strip whenever the feeder bracket 40 is rocked upwardly in the ticket cutting operation. `'I'he wheels `61 are interlocked in the usual manner of `such devices so that the number may be changed by partial rotation `of a shaft 68 (Fig. 6) when a iinger piece 69 is depressed. A counter `10 `is affixed to the end of the shaft 68 to give a visual check on the number registered on the `wheels or for other totalizing purposes.

as may be desired.

Anframe 1| is affixed to the hanger 65 for carrying the inked ribbon rolls 12. A ribbon 13 is guidedbetween the rolls by pins 14 so as to lie adjacentthe numeral wheel for printing a number on the ticket strip. The ribbon isadvanced by means of asolenoid tripping one of two lever arms 16 for winding one or the other of the ribbon rolls 12 in.

theusual manner. The solenoid 15 on the rear of: frame 1l (Fig. 8) Vwhen energized pivotsa lever 11 on the back side of the frame which through suitable connections (not shown) actuates one of the arms 16 to engage either roll at the saw tooth peripheral edge of a roll wheel 18,(Fig. 6). Apparatus for advancing an inked ribbon in this manner is common and the particular details thereof may be as desired.

`The relative positioning of the parts in the` complete assembly may be seenby Fig. 1 wherein the `ticket strip spool supply 19 is shown mounted on a bracket xed at 80 on the` anvil.

frame 2 `below the feeder and printing apparatus. l

Referring to thef wiring diagram` of Fig. 7 it will be noted that the switch 1 energizes the ticket feed pusher solenoid 41 and the ribbon advancing solenoid 15 and in` addition a sole-` reset to zero is provided.

When anew number is assigned the counter` is `actuated through switch 1 every `time a ticket is fed for attachment to` a garment. In the event an operator makes a mistake or a faulty staple it `may be detached from the article, and the article again placed on the work table for stapling. The opera-tor may thus depressswitch `6 only and actuate the solenoids 41 and 15 without energizing the counter solenoid 82. In this way the counter can be utilized without giving a false count as to the number of items in a customers individual bundle.

In the diagram of Fig. 7 the power lines are indicated at 83 and 84. For switch 6 the circuit is from line 83 through lead 85 to one side of switch 1, to connector 86, through switch 6 and connector 88 to lead 89 Ofiline 84.

aeaasac For switch l .the is from lead 8:5 of line 83, through the switch l to `three connectors 9.6, 91| and 92 ofV solenoids 4l, 75 and 82 respectively, and from the solenoids through conneotors88 and 93 to lead 8:9 of line M.

The circuit for switches 8 and 3 is established by lead 94 from line B3, switch B, connector 95, switch 9, connector 8B, solenoid Ul and lead 91 to line 8i'.

What is claimed is:

1. A. wire stitching machine having a work support, staple driver mechanism and switch operated means to reciprocate said driver against said support, and in combination ticket feeding mechanism for presenting a ticket on the .support for attachment to a work piece, said mechanism comprising a rocker frame pivotally attached on said stitcher machina'tickct strip advancing means on. said frame, ticket strip guiding and cutting means on the frame, forwardly of the pivot and lying adjacent said work support, .a ticket strip supporting shelf carried by said frame and having a platen surface rearwardly of said pivot, said lframe being weighted rearwardly to normally urge said .guiding and cutting means upwardly of said work support, upper and lower stops to limit the pivoting of the frame, means actuated by lsaid driver mechanism and engageable with said cutting .means to pivot .said frame, printing elements positioned in spaced. overlying position relative to said platen `surface to receive a ticket strip insaid pivotcd position of the frame, an inking ribbon extending across said elements with feeding means for advancing the ribbon to renew the same, and switch operated .electrical means for actuating said ticket strip advancing means and said vribbon .feed independently ol?v said driver means.

2., Ticket feeding mechanism adapted for use .l

on a stitching machine having a head, an anvil work support spaced therefrom, a driver in the. head and means to reciprocate the .driver against said table to form a wire staple, said mechanism .including a pivotally mounted frame having an upper cutter jaw piece fixed in relation to said frame with its forward edge adjacent said support and normally positioned by said frame upwardly of the surface oi the support, a lower jaw piece pivctally mounted on the frame and movable relative to the upper jaw, said lower jaw `being provided with a knife edge spaced from. and underlying the :Forward edge of the upper jaw, and a reciprocable tongue urged against the underside of said upper jaw piece `and provided with longitudinally spaced prongs, `said upper jaw piece having a slot .to receive said prongs, a longitudinally dished .undersurface .to guide a ticket `strip along the same, and means to 'prevent rearward sliding of .a ticket on lsaid undersurface, a solenoid operated reciprocable plunger carrying said tongue, and a switch button actuated electrical circuit to energize said solenoid, a hammer member vmovable against said upper jaw piece and adapted for movement with said driver mechanism to pivot said frame, and .a resilient stop .in the path of `said lower jaw piece limiting the pivotal travel thereof, said frame and upper jaw piece being pivoted toward said lower jaw piece by said hammer member to Amove said jaws together to `Cut the free end of a ticket ,strip advanced by said tongue.

3. Apparatus for feeding a printed ticket vfrom a continuous strip of tape comprising .a support, a frame pivoted thereon having an upper `jaw 8 piece with a shearing blade edge at its front end, a `lower jaw piece supported 'by said frame andv provided withA a knife edge underlying thc front end of the upper jaw, reciprocablestrip engaging members carried by the frame to advance said strip along the undcrsurface of said upper jaw, solenoid operated means to reciprocate said members, a shelf carried by said frame to underlie said tape strip and printing means mounted on said support in fixed relation thereto and in the pivotal path oi' -said shelf, the movement of said upper jaw against said lower jaw causing engagement or said snel-ie against said printing means.

4. In a wire stitcher the combination oi an anvil table, staple driving means operablel to drive the iegs of a wire staple into a work piece held on the table, a v'pivotally mounted frame `in cluding cutter means mounted at the iront end of the frame adgacent said table, `said fframe being normally biased -to elevate said iront end and cutter 'means higher than the table and. means on said frame to Support and advance a strip of tickets forwardly thereof with the :free end of the strip extending beyond sai-d cutter means and into spaced loverlying positionfwith respect to said table, actuating means connected with said stapie driving means and movable against the 'front end oi said frame rto pivot the same downwardly, a stop limi-ting pivotal movement of the frame and operable to position the free end of the ticket stripon a piece of work held on said table, the pivotal mcvementoi said frame against said stop by engagement of said actuating means against said frame operating said cutter means to sever a ticket from said strip for attachment to said Work.

5. In combination on a wire stitching machine having a head, an anvil table spaced therefrom, a slide in lsaid head reciprocable relative to lsaid anvii tabie and a staple driver operatively at tached to sai-d `sli-cle, a ticket printing andl feeding apparatus comprising a support in fixed relation to said `head, a fram-e pivoted on said support and including rnea'ns to advance a strip or" tickets forwardly `of the frame, relatively movable upper and lower cutter elements provided at the front end of said frame and positioned adjacent said anvil table, said pivoted frame being rearwardly weighted and normaily holding both said cutter members upwardly of :the anvii table, a platen at the rear of the frame adapted to underlie said ticket strip and printing means carried 'by said support in fixed relation thereto and opposite said platen, a reciprocable hammer member operatively connected with said slide and engaging said upper cutter `element when said slide is moved toward said table, to move said upper cutter toward the lower-'cutter element and to pivot said trame, stop means 'limiting 'pivotai travel of said lower cutter element and said trame and positioning said elements at the edge vof said table, said platen in .pi-voted position of the 'frame being pressed :against said printing means.

16. .A wirestitching machine having a work table., reciprocable :driving mechanism, and

means to move said mechanism toward said table in combination with -a .ticket feeding yand printing apparatus having means to advance a strip of tapetoward 4said table :and including a support and on the .support sa pivotedframe provided with an .outlet adjacent said work table for positioning the free end of the tape in overlying relation to .said tab-le, :said :pivotal frame having a rea-r shelf in underlying relation to -a portion of said tape strip on said frame and severing means at the outlet of the frame, actuating means connected to said reciprocable driving mechanism engageable with said severing means and movable with said driving mechanism against the latter to pivot said frame, said frame in pivoted condition positioning the free end of said strip on said Work table, and printing means fixed on said support engageable by said rear shelf for printing a symbol on said tape.

7. Apparatus for feeding a printed ticket from a continuous strip of tape comprising a support, a frame pivoted thereon having an upper jaw piece with a shearing element at the front end of the frame, a lower jaw piece supported by said frame and provided with a complementary shearing element underlying the shearing element of the upper jaw, reciprocable strip engaging members carried by the frame to advance said strip toward References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 859,321 Myers July 9, 1907 1,082,774 Sohn 1 Dec. 30, 1913 1,125,969 Craig Jan. 26, 1915 2,004,202 Horton June 11, 1935 2,205,724 Hines June 25, 1940 

